Annual report lays out Butte County's drug problems

Methamphetamine and marijuana continue to be a problem in Butte County, but an increase in heroin is becoming a concern.

According to the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force 2012 report released Tuesday there were 243 arrest made with most — 219 — being drug-related.

Chico saw the most arrests — 93, according to the report. Sixty arrests were categorized as happening in Butte County, Oroville had 45 arrests and Gridley had 26. Paradise, Biggs and Magalia had 7, 3 and 1, respectively.

Last year saw an increase in heroin seizures — more than 78 grams, said Jeff Smith, task force commander for the Department of Justice. People using opiate prescription pills are turning to heroin, which is less expensive and more available.

Nine percent of arrests made were subjects in possession of prescription pills that did not belong to them, according to the report.

There are several ways people get their hands on them, said Oroville Police Chief Bill LaGrone, who chairs the task force advisory council. Some steal it from family or burglarize a home. Others go from doctor to doctor with complaints of pain, he added.

People have become very skilled in acquiring them, LaGrone said.

Despite the increase in heroin use, methamphetamine is still the biggest problem, Smith said. It's the drug that's most dangerous and that the task force deals with the most.

There's been a decrease in methamphetamine labs — eight were seized last year, he said. However, meth prices are decreasing and that indicates there's more supply.

Most of the meth is coming from Mexico, Smith said. The task force needs to cut the supply.

Butte County ranks No. 1 in the state per capita for lab seizures out of the 30 counties that reported seizures, according to the report. It ranked No. 7 for a total number of labs seized statewide.

The county ranks high because although bigger cities have more labs, when population is taken into account, there are more people in Butte County involved in it, Smith said.

People should keep in mind that Butte County has one the 19 task forces still active in California, LaGrone said. Butte County is going to find more labs because agents can actually investigate them.

Butte County is tied with San Joaquin, Sacramento, San Diego and Santa Clara counties for the total number of labs seized.

Out of the arrests made last year, 141 — 58 percent — involved meth, according to the report.

Methamphetamine has been an issue in the county since the 1980s, LaGrone said.

It will never be wiped out as long as people are addicted, he said. Butte County needs to continue to educate and combat the problem.

Drug seizures netted 1,095.86 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of more than $164,000 last year, according to the report.

BINTF's report also highlights the prevalent use of marijuana, the seizure of 47 weapons and the removal of 19 children from drug endangered homes.

Marijuana was involved in 13 percent of drug arrests — mainly for possession for sale and cultivation, according to the report.

Most people had valid Proposition 215 recommendations, but were using it to profit, according to the report.

A "whole new narcotics underworld" was created, LaGrone said. There's now a culture of "quasi-legal drug dealers" that law enforcement has to deal with.

Proposition 215 is a moving target, Smith said. It's difficult to determine what's legal and what's illegal, how much is possession and how much is for personal use.

The "drastic" increase in the amount of marijuana available has led to an increase in crime, according to the report.

According to the annual report, out of the more than $4.7 million worth of narcotics seized, processed marijuana and marijuana plants added more than $3.2 million and $1.2 million seized, respectively.

BINTF also assisted the Butte County Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Unit with the eradication of 967 plants with a street value of more than $2.9 million, according to the report.

However, seizure of processed marijuana decreased from 362,977 grams in 2011 to 160,601 grams last year, according to the report. The seizure of marijuana plants also dropped from 539 to 409.

One large component of the task force has become removing children from unsafe homes, LaGrone said. The Drug Endangered Children program has not only been an essential part of the task force, but it's now a part of the front-line officers' duties.

Detectives had 41 DEC investigations that involved 53 children, according to the report. Two children from the 19 removed tested positive for exposure to illegal drugs.

Twenty people out of the 243 arrested by BINTF are facing child endangerment charges and 10 are still pending charges, according to the report.

The report demonstrates the necessity of the task force, LaGrone said. Drug trends are changing and one drug is not the only issue.

Funding is always an issue, he said. However, the task forces are needed to keep pressure on people distributing drugs and becoming wealthy by preying on others.

Anyone with concerns can contact the task force at its south county office at 538-2261 or at its north county office at 891-3124.

People need to be patient if they call the task force, Smith said. BINTF's investigations are different and may require undercover work.